About this quote

Personal change rarely stays personal. When someone cleans up their own conduct, the people nearby feel it and often adjust in turn — example spreads more quietly, and more effectively, than instruction ever does.

When to use it

• A manager who stops cutting corners, and within weeks the team's shortcuts fade too.
• One roommate who starts washing up right away, and the whole flat slowly follows.
• A parent who quits scrolling at dinner, and the kids gradually put their phones down too.